Surnames: AUSTIN KIMBALL THAYER RING

----Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN & PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 02/15/1917

Austin, George A. (2 Mar 1829 - 7 Feb 1917)

George A. Austin, one of Neillsville, Clark County, Wis. grand old men, passed peacefully away at his home Wednesday night, Feb. 7, 1917, aged 87 years, 11 months and 5 days. He remained in full possession of his faculties to the last, taking an active interest in the affairs of the world and enjoying in a wholesome way, the best things of the community.

Geo. A. Austin was born at Unadilla, Otsego Co., N.Y., March 2, 1829. His parents moved to Chenango Co., N.Y., and in 1843 came to Wisconsin. Until 1849 George A. worked at home upon the farm and attended school. For a time he worked upon the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and in 1850 - 51 taught school. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1853 and practiced till the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in Co. A., 15th Ill., V.I. He served through the war, was taken prisoner in 1864 and confined in Andersonville. On his release he re-entered the service and remained till the end of the war, being first Lieut. Of his company when mustered out.

He was married at Woodstock, Ill., in 1853 to Miss M. N. Kimball. In 1870 they came to Neillsville, where Mr. Austin went into the milling business with Mr. Blakeslee. In 1878 he moved to his large farm on Pleasant Ridge, which he carried on for many years. At this period of his life, Mr. Austin, foreseeing the great dairy possibilities of Clark County, took up actively the work of presenting the newest thoughts in agriculture and dairying to the people. He saw then, as all good farmers see now, the value of the silo, the Babcock test, the balanced ration and the need for science in farming. He became one of the earliest farm institute workers and traveled widely over the state. In one sense he was a generation ahead of his time, but the work he died had to be done, and his should be the honor of the missionary and the seer and prophet. He was a man of broad intelligence on all lines., a forceful public speaker, and a man of high moral purpose. In the years since he retired from the farm and has lived here in the city he has been a quiet student of all phases of life, a wise and genial philosopher, and a man well worth meeting at any time.

He is survived by his wife, one son, Charles Austin of Neillsville, two daughters, Mrs. Mary Thayer of Minneapolis and Mrs. Ida Ring of this city; also ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Burial took place Sunday afternoon, service being in charge of the Masons.